Paul Holmes -
University
English Professor

Free Materials For ESL Teachers and Learners

Short Stories for Kids

Complete lesson plans, including stories, listening, classroom activities, quiz questions and more!

The Daring Dragonfly

Dara the daring dragonfly embarks on a quest, only to discover that the true treasure is within.

Try this story at a different level?

 

In a magical forest, there was a brave dragonfly named Dara. She loved to go on big adventures. One day, she found a secret map in a tree. Her heart beat fast with excitement, and she decided to find the hidden treasures on the map.

Before she left, Dara went to see her friend, Oscar the smart old owl. Oscar looked at the map and said, “You need to fly through a tight canyon with crafty spiders who make sticky webs. Watch out!” Dara thanked him and flew off, ready for anything.

Dara was flying through the canyon when she got caught in a strong wind. Suddenly, she was in the middle of a bunch of bees! She flew fast and twisted in the air, making the bees confused. Then she flew away, happy to keep going on her quest.

When Dara got to the place on the map, she found a simple watering hole, not gold or jewels. She was confused, but then she understood that she found something better. She learned to keep trying, to have fun with challenges, and to see the beauty in the world.

Dara went back and told everyone in the forest about what she learned. She helped them to be brave and to love every adventure they had. The forest became a happier place where everyone had fun and enjoyed life. Dara became a hero, teaching others to find their own kind of treasure.

🎧 Listen:

Slow

Normal

📖 Vocabulary:

1magicalSomething that is like a fairy tale, where impossible things can happen
2adventuresExciting experiences or journeys
3excitementA feeling of being very happy and eager
4craftyClever in a tricky way
5canyonA deep valley with steep sides, often with a river flowing through it
6questA long and difficult search for something
7twistedMoved in a way that is not straight
8confusedNot able to understand something or think clearly
9jewelsPrecious stones that are very pretty and valuable
10challengesThings that are hard to do but can help you learn and grow
11beautyThe special or lovely quality of something
12heroSomeone who is admired for doing something very brave or great

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. Who is the main character in the story?
2. What did Dara find in the tree?
3. Who did Dara go to for help?
4. What did Oscar tell Dara to watch out for?
5. What happened to Dara when she was flying through the canyon?
6. What did Dara find at the place on the map?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

In a magical forest, there was a brave dragonfly (1)______ Dara. She (2)______ to go on big adventures. One day, she found a secret map in a tree. Her heart beat fast with (3)______, and she decided to find the hidden treasures on the map.

Before she left, Dara went to see her friend, Oscar the smart old owl. Oscar looked at the map and said, “You need to fly through a tight canyon with crafty spiders who (4)______ sticky webs. Watch out!” Dara thanked him and (5)______ off, ready for anything.

Dara was flying through the canyon when she got caught in a strong wind. Suddenly, she was in the (6)______ of a bunch of bees! She flew fast and twisted in the air, making the bees confused. Then she flew away, happy to keep going on her quest.

When Dara got to the place on the map, she (7)______ a simple watering hole, not gold or jewels. She was confused, but then she understood that she found something better. She (8)______ to keep trying, to (9)______ fun with challenges, and to see the (10)______ in the world.

(11)______ went back and told everyone in the forest about what she learned. She helped them to be brave and to love every adventure they had. The forest became a happier place where everyone had fun and enjoyed life. Dara became a hero, teaching others to (12)______ their own kind of treasure.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

Students can ask a partner these questions, or discuss them as a group.

1. What is a treasure? Why do people like to find treasures?
2. How would you feel if you found a secret map? What would you do with it?
3. Do you like going on adventures? Why or why not?
4. What do you think it means to be brave? Can you give an example of a time when you were brave?
5. How would you feel if you got caught in a bunch of bees? What would you do?
6. Do you think it’s important to keep trying even if things don’t go as planned? Why or why not?
7. Why do you think Dara was happy when she found the watering hole instead of gold or jewels?
8. Can you think of a time when you helped someone be brave? How did it make you feel?

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. magical
2. adventures
3. excitement
4. crafty
5. canyon
6. quest
7. twisted
8. confused
9. jewels
10. challenges
11. beauty
12. hero

Meanings:
(A) Clever in a tricky way
(B) A long and difficult search for something
(C) Not able to understand something or think clearly
(D) Something that is like a fairy tale, where impossible things can happen
(E) The special or lovely quality of something
(F) Moved in a way that is not straight
(G) Someone who is admired for doing something very brave or great
(H) Exciting experiences or journeys
(I) Things that are hard to do but can help you learn and grow
(J) A feeling of being very happy and eager
(K) A deep valley with steep sides, often with a river flowing through it
(L) Precious stones that are very pretty and valuable
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. What did Dara find in the magical forest?
(a) A secret map
(b) A hidden treasure
(c) A crafty spider
(d) A bunch of bees

2. Who did Dara go to see before she left on her adventure?
(a) Robert the brave lion
(b) Oscar the smart old owl
(c) Emily the mischievous squirrel
(d) Lucy the playful rabbit

3. What did Oscar warn Dara about on the map?
(a) Strong winds in the canyon
(b) Confused bees in the air
(c) Crafty spiders who make sticky webs
(d) A simple watering hole

4. How did Dara escape from the bees?
(a) By hiding in a tree
(b) By asking for help from Oscar
(c) By using her magic powers
(d) By flying fast and twisting in the air

5. What did Dara find at the place marked on the map?
(a) Gold and jewels
(b) A simple watering hole
(c) Crafty spiders
(d) A bunch of bees

6. What did Dara learn from her adventure?
(a) To keep trying and have fun with challenges
(b) To be scared of bees
(c) To avoid the canyon with crafty spiders
(d) To never go on adventures again

7. What did Dara do when she went back to the forest?
(a) She hid the map so no one else could find it
(b) She went on another adventure
(c) She kept the secret to herself
(d) She told everyone about what she learned

8. How did Dara become a hero?
(a) By defeating the crafty spiders in the canyon
(b) By finding gold and jewels on her adventure
(c) By teaching others to find their own kind of treasure
(d) By flying faster than any other dragonfly in the forest

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. Dara learned unimportant lessons about giving up easily, avoiding challenges, and finding ugliness in the world, and she kept these lessons to herself.
2. Dara managed to confuse the bees and escape from them.
3. Oscar praised Dara about the helpful spiders in the tight canyon.
4. Oscar the owl is Dara’s friend and he is very wise.
5. Dara discovered a complex watering hole instead of gold or jewels.
6. Dara is a brave dragonfly who loves going on adventures.
7. Dara found a secret map in a tree in the magical forest.
8. Dara got caught in a weak wind and ended up in a swarm of flies.
Go to answers ⇩

📝 Write a Summary:

Write a summary of this story in two sentences. Here are some hints:
Who are the main characters?
What happens in the story?

Answers

🤔✅ Comprehension Question Answers:

1. Who is the main character in the story?
Dara is the main character in the story.

2. What did Dara find in the tree?
Dara found a secret map in the tree.

3. Who did Dara go to for help?
Dara went to see her friend, Oscar the smart old owl, for help.

4. What did Oscar tell Dara to watch out for?
Oscar told Dara to watch out for crafty spiders who make sticky webs.

5. What happened to Dara when she was flying through the canyon?
Dara got caught in a strong wind and ended up in the middle of a bunch of bees.

6. What did Dara find at the place on the map?
Dara found a simple watering hole at the place on the map.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) named
(2) loved
(3) excitement
(4) make
(5) flew
(6) middle
(7) found
(8) learned
(9) have
(10) beauty
(11) Dara
(12) find
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. magical
Answer: (D) Something that is like a fairy tale, where impossible things can happen

2. adventures
Answer: (H) Exciting experiences or journeys

3. excitement
Answer: (J) A feeling of being very happy and eager

4. crafty
Answer: (A) Clever in a tricky way

5. canyon
Answer: (K) A deep valley with steep sides, often with a river flowing through it

6. quest
Answer: (B) A long and difficult search for something

7. twisted
Answer: (F) Moved in a way that is not straight

8. confused
Answer: (C) Not able to understand something or think clearly

9. jewels
Answer: (L) Precious stones that are very pretty and valuable

10. challenges
Answer: (I) Things that are hard to do but can help you learn and grow

11. beauty
Answer: (E) The special or lovely quality of something

12. hero
Answer: (G) Someone who is admired for doing something very brave or great
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. What did Dara find in the magical forest?
Answer: (a) A secret map

2. Who did Dara go to see before she left on her adventure?
Answer: (b) Oscar the smart old owl

3. What did Oscar warn Dara about on the map?
Answer: (c) Crafty spiders who make sticky webs

4. How did Dara escape from the bees?
Answer: (d) By flying fast and twisting in the air

5. What did Dara find at the place marked on the map?
Answer: (b) A simple watering hole

6. What did Dara learn from her adventure?
Answer: (a) To keep trying and have fun with challenges

7. What did Dara do when she went back to the forest?
Answer: (d) She told everyone about what she learned

8. How did Dara become a hero?
Answer: (c) By teaching others to find their own kind of treasure
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. Dara learned unimportant lessons about giving up easily, avoiding challenges, and finding ugliness in the world, and she kept these lessons to herself. (Answer: False)
2. Dara managed to confuse the bees and escape from them. (Answer: True)
3. Oscar praised Dara about the helpful spiders in the tight canyon. (Answer: False)
4. Oscar the owl is Dara’s friend and he is very wise. (Answer: True)
5. Dara discovered a complex watering hole instead of gold or jewels. (Answer: False)
6. Dara is a brave dragonfly who loves going on adventures. (Answer: True)
7. Dara found a secret map in a tree in the magical forest. (Answer: True)
8. Dara got caught in a weak wind and ended up in a swarm of flies. (Answer: False)
Go back to questions ⇧

📚 How about these other Level 2 stories?

Bella, a butterfly with vibrant wings, embarks on a treacherous journey to restore her colors.

The Butterfly Who Lost Her Colors

Bella the butterfly lost her colorful wings, but with the help of a wise owl, she found a special flower that brought them back even brighter than before.

Three best friends discover the joy of unexpected surprises while competing in a hot chocolate tasting.

The Hot Chocolate Mystery

Max, Ben, and Mia have a hot chocolate competition, but Max’s mom plays a funny prank on him by switching their cups.

Captain Pete, the Polka-Dot Pirate, embarks on a treasure hunt and discovers the true meaning of sharing.

The Polka-Dot Pirate

Captain Pete, a pirate who loved polka-dots, found a special dotted treasure on an island and learned to share it with others.

Four friends embark on a magical adventure, only to discover that the real treasure is their friendship.

The Four Leaf Clover Quest

Four friends go on an adventure to find a special clover that grants wishes, but learn that friendship is the real magic.

The broken letterbox becomes a source of laughter and connection as the townsfolk turn it into an interactive game for a mischievous squirrel named Nutkin.

The Broken Letterbox

In a town called Blossomville, the letterbox broke and everyone got worried. They made puzzles for a squirrel named Nutkin to fix it, and it turned into a fun adventure.

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